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Post by truenorth on Jan 29, 2024 11:19:01 GMT -8
Valentino and Marc find themselves together again on the track: the Doctor with the R1 while the Phenomenon debuts on the Panigale V4. The appointment is the Portimao Superbike test starting today
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Post by truenorth on Jan 30, 2024 7:18:17 GMT -8
DAY 1 REPORT: HE’S DONE IT AGAIN – Bulega tops the timesheets at Portimao WorldSBK test Monday, 29 January 2024 The reigning WorldSSP Champion is proving to be something of a revelation as once again, the #11 was next to P1 Jonathan Rea (Pata Yamaha Prometeon) switching to Yamaha, Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) joining BMW, Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) returning to action or even Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) getting a dream factory ride with KRT. We weren’t short on stories ahead of the season starting and the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship has another headline – Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). Over 80 laps at Portimao, the #11 was on top again as day one concluded. MAN ON A MISSION: full gas for ‘Bulegas’ He was one of the fastest at Jerez at the end of 2023, he topped last week’s test at the same circuit (with a new unofficial lap record) and now, he’s hit top spot again. Nicolo Bulega has been fast from the start of his WorldSBK career and once again, outshone reigning World Champion teammate Alvaro Bautista. Bulega worked on getting familiar with the bike at a different circuit and seemingly it went well, with him being the only rider to set a 1’39 – a 1’39.932. Teammate Bautista was three quarters of a second off the pace, albeit further up the order than Jerez (P8 compared to P16), the #1 is seemingly still struggling with his neck injury as well as adapting to the 5-6kg that have been put on his Ducati Panigale V4 R to meet the new weight rules. BMW SHINE: Razgatlioglu and van der Mark on the pace P2 belonged to Toprak Razgatlioglu, who confirmed that he had new parts – although what remains to be confirmed. One thing we do know is that BMW on a whole have a new swingarm, updated engine specs, revised aero packages and ever-improving electronics. Speaking at Jerez, the plan was to continue testing the same parts, making sure the findings are consistent from one track to another. The #54 continued to try and find a solution for rear grip and is 95% happy with the braking of the bike. Teammate Michael van der Mark had a solid day one in P7, with the objective of the day refining the base bike as well as trialling different swingarms, with the new one heading out at the end of the day. Elsewhere for BMW, Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) also had a new swingarm and setting options to work through. He was 12th overall, with teammate Scott Redding 15th. YAMAHA’S LATE CHARGE: Rea and Locatelli join Gardner to complete the top five On his penultimate flying lap, Jonathan Rea flew into P3 to slash the gap to Bulega to just 0.148s. Ahead of him on the track, teammate Andrea Locatelli finished P5. Rea’s mission to get more comfortable on the bike continued, with it being the first track at which he tries out the R1 besides Jerez. As for ‘Loka’, he confirmed ahead of testing that he’s now debriefing in English with crew chief Tom O’Kane, instead of Italian with ex-crew chief Andrew Pitt. Team boss Paul Denning confirmed that the team had various small new items but they were all inside. Between the two factory Yamahas, Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was fourth and once again having a strong test. His teammate Dominique Aegerter isn’t present as he’s still unwell. OUTSIDE THE TOP 5: stories galore as Sam Lowes rockets to sixth, Honda improve Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was sixth and looking strong as he got down to business at a new circuit. With the idea to get used to Portimao on a Superbike, he also had seat position updates and fuel tank shape, purely for ergonomics. On day two, he may have new fork internals from Ohlins. At Honda, one side of the garage can be happy with work done as Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) finished ninth as the team continue to get acclimatised to the new CBR1000RR-R. One place behind him and the last rider within one second of Bulega’s time, Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK). He tried a new swingarm, as the hunt for more rear grip and better acceleration continues, although a tech problem slowed his progress. Just behind him, Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) was back in action after missing Jerez and started on the 2023-spec Yamaha. FURTHER DOWN FIELD: Lecuona struggles, Rinaldi, Redding, Petrucci, Iannone and Bassani behind Less than three tenths covered Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) in 13th to Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) in 18th. Whilst better than at Jerez, the #7 Honda of Lecuona still seemingly needs time to get up to speed and find a solid base for the new bike, whilst Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Motocorsa Racing) was in 14th on his second day of 2024 testing. Redding was 15th but expect more from the Brit on day two, whilst Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) is back at a circuit he struggled at during testing in 2023. ‘Petrux’ finished 1.239s adrift of Bulega, despite new seat and swingarm parts, as he seeks a solution for his new-tyre struggles. Spending the day understanding the rollercoaster of Portimao, Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) bedded in, with bike geometry and setting refinement to come. Axel Bassani set his fastest lap on his final flying lap and only used one bike throughout the day, as he spent time working on riding style and position on the bike. ROUNDING UP: the rest of the order, Huertas tops WorldSSP Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) continued his track time with the factory-spec ZX-10RR, just 1.571s off Bulega, with Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) behind him – expect Oettl to be faster on day two, repeating the trend from Jerez. BMW’s test team of Sylvain Guintoli and Bradley Smith were tied together in the order, although the 2014 WorldSBK Champion nearly eight tenths quicker than his British counterpart. Florian Marino (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) continued his test-rider duties, whilst the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team of Tarran Mackenzie and Adam Norrodin missed most of the action on day one, with just two laps being set my Mackenzie and not on the pace. In WorldSSP, Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) was fastest with a 1’43.806, whilst Niccolo Antonelli (Althea Racing Team) and teammate Piotr Biesiekirski were behind. Top ten at the end of Day 1 at Portimao, full results here (lap times combined below): 1 Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’39.913 – 82 laps 2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.094s – 73 laps 3. Jonathan Rea (Pata Yamaha Prometeon) +0.148s – 74 laps 4. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.355s – 89 laps 5. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon) +0.357s – 78 laps 6. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.550s – 74 laps 7. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.723 – 82 laps 8. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.760 – 86 laps 9. Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) +0.816s – 89 laps 10. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.866s – 65 laps
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Post by truenorth on Jan 30, 2024 7:19:47 GMT -8
BREAKING NEWS: Formula 1 and MotoGP are set to collaborate for a joint weekend. A decision that has been under discussion among the top executives of both racing categories. The owner of the United States Grand Prix supports this event.
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Post by truenorth on Jan 30, 2024 7:22:09 GMT -8
BMW DAZZLE: Razgatlioglu P2 as van der Mark finds form on Day 1 at Portimao Monday, 29 January 2024 The efforts, energy and resources that have been piled into the BMW WorldSBK project are paying off – it is only testing but perhaps it’s a good indicator of what’s to come As the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s curtain starts to lift up off the ground, the stage is set for an almighty battle. BMW are keen to be part of that and with new signing Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) seemingly straight on the pace, teammate Michael van der Mark is in contention too. ‘EL TURCO’ responds to BMW critics: “Everyone speaks about it, says it’s not good but it is” Day one at Portimao was prosperous for both; Razgatlioglu, who had a couple of days to recover from burning and aching on his backside after a seat position didn’t work out at Jerez, was straight on the pace and didn’t leave the top three pretty much all day. The #54 stated that he was 95% happy with the braking of his M 1000 RR ahead of the test and instead, was searching for an improvement in rear grip, one of the long-lasting complaints of the bike since it was introduced in 2021. Having tested a swingarm at Jerez and not being convinced on it, this test serves as one for purely reconfirming – or disregarding – items, ideas and theories. Speaking about what he tested, the agenda of the day and what’s to come on day two, Razgatlioglu said: “I can’t say what we tried but the feeling is that the first bike is much better. We’ll just use that and then tomorrow, we’ll try some different setups as well as shocks and suspensions. I like to go to Jerez and Portimao, here is my favourite circuit and I’m riding very well. Every day, we have improved the bike and it’s not bad. Everyone speaks about it, saying it’s not good but it is good. It’s not 100% but we’re still improving and we’re coming. We aren’t far away. If the bike didn’t have potential, I wouldn’t have made the lap time of a 1’40.0. I feel the potential and I’m happy for this, we just need to keep working.” “I wasn’t happy with it at Jerez but here, I’m a lot happier” – van der Mark on new swingarm On the other side of the box, Michael van der Mark likewise had plenty to keep him busy. The new swingarm was one of the main items for the 2014 WorldSSP Champion to be working on. Having already echoed the sentiments of BMW’s big bosses in saying that it isn’t one singular thing that improves the bike but instead a collection of parts, van der Mark finished P7 on day one and was right in the top four places for most of the day, with others working on long runs before firing in softer rubber at the end. Summarising day one, the #60 stated: “We had a good day and our programme was to just to confirm the parts we tried at Jerez. We had two different bikes and did longer runs to do a full comparison. It was quite interesting; this is a different track and the feedback from the parts was different to Jerez, so there’s a lot to think about. We tried a new swingarm; I had it in Jerez as well but this is a different track so we back-to-backed it here. I wasn’t happy with it at Jerez but here, I’m a lot happier with it. If it’s working here, we can play with the setup and make it work.”
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Post by truenorth on Jan 30, 2024 9:55:50 GMT -8
The Pramac team rider was taken to the medical centre but is fine. Moments of apprehension in the Algarve circuit, due to the red flag caused by Franco Morbidelli's crash after the crest.
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Post by truenorth on Jan 30, 2024 10:05:21 GMT -8
Lap record SMASHED toprak_tr54 was on a mission, spending most of the day on top and proving that his potential with BMW is sky high.
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Post by truenorth on Jan 30, 2024 13:33:16 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on Jan 31, 2024 10:15:25 GMT -8
RAZGATLIOGLU ROCKETS TO THE TOP: lap record smashed by Toprak, Bautista 15th Tuesday, 30 January 2024 The final European test of the season is done and Toprak Razgatlioglu was on a mission, spending most of the day on top and proving that his potential with BMW is sky high Faster lap times, new names rising and the established guard holding their own, the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship has been sent into February – the month racing commences (AT LAST) – in some style. Once again, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was fast but even faster was Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), who – for the first time since joining BMW – topped the timesheets. BMW CONTINUE TO FLEX MUSCLES: Razgatlioglu turns heads to top final European test Going into lunch time, Toprak Razgatlioglu was on top of the pile, courtesy of a quick stint on the SCX tyre which saw him set a 1’39.255, four tenths under the official lap record but still a couple of tenths shy of Alvaro Bautista’s time from last year’s preseason test. Toprak was testing with the updated swingarm on day one with “continued work” seeming to carry on across to day two. During the first half of the second day, ‘El Turco’ did a long run with the SC0 tyre, where he seemed to lap strongly with all laps in the 1’40s and the first ones being close to the 1’39 barrier. In his final run, he fired in a 1’39.189 to seal the deal, this time with the SCQ, borrowed from Bonovo; he’s topped a test for the first time with BMW with a full grid in action. The lap was also set with teammate Michael van der Mark behind him. van der Mark was working more on the setup of the bike which has “changed quite a lot”, meaning that he can “play more with the setup”, although they’ve already found a good base. BULEGA LEADS DUCATI’S CHARGE: is the #11 the real deal? Once more, Nicolo Bulega was in mighty form; whilst many may have thought that ‘Bulegas’ wouldn’t have been a threat to teammate Alvaro Bautista in 2024, he may already being giving the #1 a headache. Electrically fast all through testing, the reigning WorldSSP Champion was once again one of the benchmark riders on day two. Despite Marco Zambenedetti, Ducati Corse WorldSBK Technical Director, stating that Bulega is only “learning and understanding” the bike and being “positively impressed” with a “very good surprise”, he maintained that “races will be a different story” once the season gets properly underway. When asked about whether or not he will be a contender throughout the season, Zambenedetti said “for sure.” For Bautista, Ducati continued to work with the ballast configuration, although at lunch time, he was only P11 and the fourth Ducati before finishing a lowly 15th. Both Ducati riders were double checking items previously tried at Jerez. RISE OF LOWES: Alex finds pace with Kawasaki to go P3, Bassani improves on day two Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) continued his work with the ZX-10RR, confirming items from Jerez, with the key focus on maintaining good race pace in the second half of the race. Electronics and chassis work were vital for Lowes, who also had Showa material to try on his way to P3 overall. As for teammate Axel Bassani, the #47 continued to try and adapt from V4 to inline four engine configuration, as well improve his feeling on corner entry. Anti-wheelie work was also carried out, as well as refining the engine braking setting. Whilst Lowes spent most of the day inside the top ten, Bassani struggled and was down in 17th heading into the second half of the day. Come the chequered flag, ‘El Bocia’ was 11th. OUTSIDERS: Gardner, Petrucci, Redding and Gerloff strong 2024 is shaping up to be the year of revelations, as a variety of contenders were in the mix behind the main factory stars. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was up inside the top three going into the final hour as he worked on a variety of parts, whilst Danilo Petrucci went 1.5s quicker than he did as a rookie at Portimao last winter, up into the top ten at a circuit he’s historically struggled at; he’s been trying a new seat to improve his position on the bike. Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) and teammate Garrett Gerloff tried a variety of settings and finished the test both inside the top ten, meaning all four full-time BMW riders were strong, the only manufacturer with four bikes in that top ten, whereas Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was still learning a Superbike and how it handles around the rollercoaster of Portimao. YAMAHA: day of two halves for Rea and Locatelli Third at lunch time and the first rider in the 1’39s during the day, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) has really found his feet in WorldSBK and was rapid across both days. Teammate Jonathan Rea was less fortunate, with a technical issue in the morning halting his track time and indeed the session. He returned to the track 40 minutes later but was only ninth at lunch. Having spent day one back-to-backing items previously tested at Jerez and understanding the bike on SC0, Rea stated he was still missing a one-lap attack going into day two. Come the conclusion of track action, ‘Loka’ was sixth, one place ahead of Rea. IMPROVEMENTS FOR HONDA: encouraging signs but work to do After doing more laps on day one than both days combined at Jerez, Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) was an early faller on day two at Portimao. He tumbled out at Turn 7, with the bike needing repairing before it could go back out. Portimao was a track where the #7 was fast at in 2023, so whilst signs are more positive than at Jerez (a track Honda struggled at), it’s difficult to determine how competitive they are. The Spaniard moved up the order a little bit with a late lap to improve his time in the final 15 minutes. Both he and teammate Xavi Vierge spent time adjusting electronics, given that most of Honda’s are new for 2024. Vierge commented that they’re still missing traction, so day two was spent trying to resolve that so that they can use one of the bike’s strengths. ROUNDING OUT: the rest of the stars Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Motocorsa Racing) was working on long runs and found steps on used tyres but much like Petrucci, struggled with fresh rubber. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) spent day two working on electronics and engine setup and the team even began working within the new fuel rules that come into force from 2025 and finished just behind the #21, whilst Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was next up, who worked on new triple clamps and swingarms on day one and tried to confirm his feelings on day two. Brad Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) took 20th, ahead of Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) and the two BMW Test Team riders of Sylvain Guintoli and Bradley Smith. Top WorldSSP rider was Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team), ahead of Niccolo Antonelli (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team). Top 10 after day two, full results here (laps are combined across two bikes): 1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’39.189s – 74 laps 2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.086s – 61 laps 3. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.332s – 90 laps 4. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.377s – 79 laps 5. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.428s – 76 laps 6. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +0.489s– 80 laps 7. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +0.496s – 64 laps 8. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.767s – 53 laps 9. Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) +0.946s – 76 laps 10. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) +0.947s – 59 laps
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Post by truenorth on Jan 31, 2024 14:29:07 GMT -8
Motorsport.com Pramac #MotoGP rider Franco Morbidelli has undergone scans in hospital after a small blood clot was discovered following a blow to the head in a crash while training.
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Post by truenorth on Feb 1, 2024 9:57:01 GMT -8
MotoGP™ Sepang Shakedown opening day ends with Pedrosa fastest MotoGP™ is back on track in 2024 as Red Bull GASGAS Tech3’s Acosta finishes just 0.152s off the three-time World Champion MotoGP™ is officially back underway in 2024 as the Sepang Shakedown Test begins with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Test Rider Dani Pedrosa topping the timesheets with a 1:59.233, as rookie Pedro Acosta impressed again on his Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 machine to finish just 0.152s adrift of the three-time World Champion. In total, seven riders were on track on the opening day as we saw Pol Espargaro back in orange as the Spaniard begins his new role as a Test Rider for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. Stefan Bradl (HRC Test Team), Michele Pirro (Ducati Lenovo Team), Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Factory Racing) and Aprilia Racing’s Lorenzo Savadori were the other riders putting in the work for their respective factories. The second and final days of the Shakedown Test is when we’ll see Yamaha and Honda’s full-time MotoGP™ stars on track, thanks to the new Concessions rules. That means Fabio Quartararo, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ teammate Alex Rins, Joan Mir, fellow Repsol Honda Team rider Luca Marini, and CASTROL/IDEMITSU Honda LCR pairing Johann Zarco and Takaaki Nakagami will be attacking the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit on Friday and Saturday. So, what new tech have we already seen? Aprilia, Ducati, KTM and Honda all had new aero to test, with the rear tail unit aero a particular talking point with three of the four aforementioned manufacturers. KTM, with both Pol Espargaro and Pedrosa, tested the Austrian factory's newest aero package, which consists of a new belly pan and modified wings. Acosta, despite it being only his second day on a MotoGP™ thoroughbred, was testing new stuff for KTM/GASGAS as the reigning Moto2™ World Champion did some work with an innovative front mudguard. In addition, Acosta tried both the steel and carbon chassis on Thursday. Top 7 1 DANI PEDROSA (RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING) 1:59.233 2 Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) + 0.152 3 Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) + 0.182 4 Stefan Bradl (HRC Test Team) + 0.627 5 Michele Pirro (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 1.633 6 Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Factory Racing) + 1.780 7 Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing) + 2.576
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Post by truenorth on Feb 1, 2024 10:00:12 GMT -8
Dall'Igna: "We want to renew Bagnaia before Qatar" The Ducati chief has revealed his desire to secure the World Champion for a further two years before the opening round of the season Although the 2024 season has not officially kicked off, the first rumours surrounding the 2025 transfer market have already started to circulate. In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Ducati Corse's General Manager, Gigi Dall'Igna, confirmed that the Bologna factory are "working to sign Bagnaia before Qatar". The World Champion's contract expires at the end of the current season, and it's clear that Ducati wants to tie down the 27-year-old before the start of a new campaign so his sole focus can be on winning a hat-trick of premier class crowns: "Will he renew before Qatar? That's the objective, even if the contract of a two-time world champion is always complicated." The General Manager also took the opportunity to refer to the rider completing Ducati's line-up in 2024, Enea Bastianini: "I see him more serene than at the beginning of last season." Regarding the new star signing of the Italian brand, Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing), Dall'Igna highlighted the low profile adopted by the eight-time World Champion in his departure from Honda: "It shows that he is an intelligent person." The Italian also spoke about the technical situation for the 2024 season: "It's going to be a challenging year because the regulations changed at the end of last year. Now we are a bit inferior to our rivals. They will have more concessions and the possibility to develop the bike further during the season. Precisely for that reason, we will have to start the year with perhaps a faster pace than in 2022 and 2023. It will be a significant challenge." After a stellar 2023, the General Manager stated that "there is always room for improvement, and that should be our goal. In aerodynamics, perhaps, we have taken another step forward."
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Post by truenorth on Feb 1, 2024 10:22:28 GMT -8
MotoGP™ tech recap: what can we expect in Sepang? We take a look back at what parts were rolled out in Valencia as the 2024 MotoGP™ Shakedown and Official Tests in Malaysia near As the Sepang Shakedown and Official Tests approach, let's hark back to the Valencia Test to have a look at what the different manufacturers brought to the table for 2024 - and see what else might be coming in Malaysia. APRILIA: Understandably, Aprilia weren't the main focus of the day at the Valencia Test largely because most of their 2024 parts wouldn't appear until February's Sepang Test. However, despite not having the larger parts that make a difference, Aprilia were able to complete some valuable work. - VIÑALES TARGETTING MORE IN 2024 AFTER TAKING TESTING HONOURS After setting the fastest lap of the day, Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) admitted different swingarms were tested that offered slightly different development directions. In addition, Viñales also worked on a different aero setup, but the most intriguing part of Aprilia's day was Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing MotoGP™) getting his first taste of the 2023 RS-GP that also had some development parts for 2024. After Aprilia - self-admittedly - failed to meet their 2023 expectations, how their 2024 bike shakes down in Sepang will be one of the bigger stories to keep an eye on. One thing in particular is that Trackhouse Racing MotoGP™'s Miguel Oliveira will also be on a 2024-spec RS-GP this season, a big step up from the 2022 bike he competed with last year. Eventually, Fernandez will have the same. DUCATI: “The best way to start with a new bike was like this” was how reigning World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) described his outing back at the Valencia Test. Corner entry was improved but the #1 was still searching for improvements on corner exit, but heading to the Sepang Test - and more recently on Michele Pirro's Desmosedici GP24 at the Shakedown - there will be one thing everyone will be looking at: Ducati's aero. At the Ducati Lenovo Team launch, General Manager Gigi Dall’Igna admitted a significant aero change is on its way as the Italian marque search to make extra strides in an area they’ve been the leading light in for several years. - HIGHLIGHTS: MARC MARQUEZ MAKES DUCATI DEBUT AT VALENCIA TEST The Sepang Test will also see the likes of Marc Marquez, his Gresini Racing MotoGP™ teammate Alex Marquez, and the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team duo of Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio get to grips with the latest 2023-spec Ducatis. The very latest ’23-spec is a machine Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) jumped on in Valencia, so we can expect the others to be doing the same in Malaysia. HONDA: Arguably the biggest manufacturer story of the Valencia Test was the former Kings of MotoGP™ - Honda. After four seasons of struggles, Honda come into 2024 in a unique position. No, not just having Marc Marquez riding for a different manufacturer. But an entirely new RC213V was unveiled in Valencia and the early signs suggest that they have appeared to make positive progress. Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) was buoyed by the positive step forward, saying that for the first time he could feel that the bike was better and actively doing what he wanted it to do. The sudden change in the feel and performance of the RV213V came thanks to a completely overhauled bike. The chassis was new, so was the more extensive aero, and Honda had reportedly shaved eight kilos off the bike. This all added up to a bike that reportedly had better rear grip and felt easier to ride and, crucially, more front feeling. Something desperately needed. Honda didn't have all their eggs in one basket at the Valencia Test though. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) did most of his running on the Misano-spec '2024' bike, one that met largely negative reviews that it felt different but didn't offer any major step forward in removing the weak points. It will be interesting to see how much this bike will feature - if at all - in Malaysia. Honda's new recruits Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) and Johann Zarco (LCR Honda Castrol) weren't able to talk about their first laps with Honda. Judging from the timesheets and their general demeanour in the garage, things did seem positive - particularly for Marini, who finished the test as the top Honda. Things are looking up for HRC heading to Sepang. A crucial six days on track await the Japanese giants to see how much deficit they've clawed back on their rivals. KTM: The big story in the KTM/GASGAS ranks was obviously Pedro Acosta’s (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) MotoGP™ debut. That’s one of the many incredibly intriguing topics that will be closely followed during both the Shakedown and Official Sepang Tests. In terms of tech upgrades, both Brad Binder and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Jack Miller gave some new aero a runout in Valencia. Spotting the differences – thanks to KTM’s clever camo fairings – were trickier than normal though. In addition, KTM’s updated exhausts continued to appear, and the much-talked-about carbon chassis was put through its paces. YAMAHA: While there will be plenty of focus on Honda’s performance, Yamaha can expect the same sort of scrutiny in Sepang. In Valencia, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) tried a new engine, new aero and a new chassis. “Some positives, especially on the aero” were a snippet of the Frenchman’s thoughts at the end of play at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, while the engine seemed “a little better.” Finding another step with the engine is something Quartararo is searching for in Sepang as both he and teammate Alex Rins get set to take part in the Shakedown for the first time since they were rookies. Other than the new bits, Yamaha continued to work on the different exhaust and swingarm that they'd been testing for a while. The time for waiting is nearly over. The three-day Sepang Shakedown Test takes place on the 1st to the 3rd of February before the Official Test unravels between the 6th and 8th, as we await to see what each factory have been working on during the winter break.
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Post by truenorth on Feb 1, 2024 11:04:48 GMT -8
2024 Sepang Shakedown Test Day 1 Times: Pedrosa Fastest As Bikes Get First Taste Of Tarmac By David Emmett | Thu, 01/02/2024 - 04:37 The first day of the shakedown test at Sepang was exactly what its name suggests for the most part: a shakedown. Riding the new bikes to make sure they are all working and ready for when the contracted riders arrive. Lorenzo Savadori, rode five different Aprilia RS-GP bikes on Thursday, Cal Crutchlow rode three bikes, while Stefan Bradl, Michele Pirro, and Dani Pedrosa all took out two bikes each.
As a result, the times are not particularly meaningful. Pedrosa's time of 1:59.233 was 1.3 seconds slower than the best lap of the 2023 test, and about a quarter of a second off the race lap record. Of note, perhaps, is Pedro Acosta's best time of the day. At 1:59.385, he is nearly three tenths of a second faster than Augusto Fernandez was at the end of six days of testing at Sepang. A promising start.
In addition to testing the new bikes, there were some new aero updates on display. Honda had a new tail section, and a few updates to the package tested in Valencia, but Aprilia had the most visible changes. In addition to a tail section with what look like wings at either side, there was also an extended side panel on the back wheel, presumably aimed at improving stability and reducing drag. But as the photos we have were mostly taken from the window in the media center overlooking pit lane (pit lane is closed to photographers), it is hard to distinguish exactly what has been changed. That will change for the official test.
The Honda and Yamaha riders were absent from the first day of the test. From previous years, we have seen that 6 days of testing in the space of a little over a week is extremely physically demanding, due to the length of time riders spend on track and the punishing tropical heat and humidity. So there is every chance Joan Mir, Luca Marini, Fabio Quartararo, Alex Rins, Takaaki Nakagami, and Johann Zarco will take to the track on Friday.
Times at the end of Day 1, via GPOne.com:
Pos No Rider Bike Time Diff Prev 1 26 Dani Pedrosa KTM RC16 1:59.233 2 31 Pedro Acosta KTM RC16 1:59.385 0.152 0.152 3 44 Pol Espargaro KTM RC16 1:59.415 0.182 0.030 4 6 Stefan Bradl Honda RC213V 1:59.860 0.627 0.445 5 51 Michele Pirro Ducati Desmosedici GP24 2:00.866 1.633 1.006 6 35 Cal Crutchlow Yamaha M1 2:01.013 1.780 0.147 7 32 Lorenzo Savadori Aprilia RS-GP 2:01.809 2.576 0.796 Records:
Year No Rider Bike Time Event 2023 10 Luca Marini Ducati GP22 1:57.889 Sepang Test 2023 1 Pecco Bagnaia Ducati GP23 1:57.491 Q2 2023 23 Enea Bastianini Ducati GP23 1:58.996 Sprint Race 2023 73 Alex Marquez Ducati GP22 1:58.979 Race
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Post by truenorth on Feb 1, 2024 12:33:19 GMT -8
During the Shakedown, an interesting aerodynamic evolution appeared on the RS-GP that Lorenzo Savadori is using: two new wings on the tail
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Post by truenorth on Feb 2, 2024 9:29:37 GMT -8
Sepang Shakedown Day 2: Pol Espargaro fastest from Quartararo and Acosta KTM top the timesheets on Friday as Honda and Yamaha’s full-time riders hit the asphalt in Malaysia Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Test Rider Pol Espargaro has ended Day 2 of the Sepang Shakedown Test on top of the timesheets after the #44 set a 1:58.241, a lap time just under three tenths clear of Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) and rookie star Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3). After remaining on the sidelines for the opening day of Shakedown action, Honda and Yamaha’s full-time riders entered the fray. Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) was the first rider on track, with teammate Joan Mir, Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR), Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) and Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) getting stuck into pre-season testing, as well as the previously mentioned Quartararo. Acosta continues to impress It was another eye-catching day for MotoGP™’s sole 2024 rookie Acosta. The #31’s best time on Day 2 was a 1:58.531, and when you put that into context you realise how impressive that lap time is. Brad Binder’s (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) quickest time at the 2023 Malaysian GP was a 1:58.080 (Q2), Augusto Fernandez’s (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) was a 1:58.107 (Q1) and Jack Miller’s (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was a 1:58.232 (PR). Adding to that, Augusto Fernandez’s best time in last year’s Sepang Test was a 1:59.660. It’s safe to say Acosta is enjoying himself and to be already less than half a second shy of Binder’s 2023 qualifying effort is seriously impressive. The aero game continues A new piece of front aero – more specifically a front fender wing – was spotted on Dani Pedrosa’s Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine on Day 2, while Aprilia Racing – with Lorenzo Savadori – continued to lap on the Noale factory’s new ‘Batmobile’ rear wing. Honda and Stefan Bradl have been busy testing an upgraded stegosaurus-type rear wing too, as you can see from the photos below. Dani Pedrosa, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Sepang Shakedown MotoGP™ Official Test Lorenzo Savadori, Aprilia Racing, Sepang Shakedown MotoGP™ Official Test Stefan Bradl, Honda Test Team, Sepang Shakedown MotoGP™ Official Test In the hands of Michele Pirro, Ducati’s main aero update that we’ve seen so far – teased by Gigi Dall’Igna at the 2024 team launch – comes on the side fairing. The addition of a further ground effect panel can be seen next to Ducati’s usual downwash duct, so it will be interesting to hear the comments of the riders on what effect this has. You can just make it out in the picture below. Michele Pirro, Ducati Team, Sepang Shakedown MotoGP™ Official Test Getting up to speed For the full-time riders, most of the day was spent getting themselves back in the groove on a MotoGP™ bike after the winter break. Quartararo and Rins had three bikes – two ’23 spec and one ’24 spec – each, with Mir spending a lot of his time on the bike he used at the Valencia Test. The same can be said for Marini, with the Italian largely focusing on ergonomics and adapting to the RC213V. A heavy rain shower meant dry running was cut short on Friday ahead of the final day of Shakedown testing on Saturday. Taka Naka Top 10: 1 POL ESPARGARO (RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING) 1:58.241 2 Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) + 0.283 3 Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) + 0.290 4 Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) + 0.409 5 Dani Pedrosa (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) + 0.431 6 Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) + 0.846 7 Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) + 0.850 8 Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) + 0.971 9 Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) + 1.028 10 Stefan Bradl (HRC Test Team) + 1.529
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Post by truenorth on Feb 2, 2024 9:34:49 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on Feb 2, 2024 9:39:14 GMT -8
David Emmett Day 2 at the Sepang shakedown and the riders are already 0.3 off the best lap of the test in 2023, and 0.75 off the outright lap record. You get a feeling that is going to be smashed next week. We are going to be pushing close to a 1'56. Which is genuinely gobsmacking.
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Post by truenorth on Feb 2, 2024 9:47:36 GMT -8
From a Deckchair on the Iceberg FIM, Dorna, Michelin... Take a Bow! You've officially taken the greatest series in Motorsport History and mangled it into some farcical breeding farm for memes. Well played
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Post by truenorth on Feb 3, 2024 7:52:52 GMT -8
Ben Spies It would be really sweet if MotoGP bikes started to look more like bikes less like planes. Cmon MotoGP, let the riders make the difference again. Let manufacturers waste less money that cannot apply to street speeds.
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Post by truenorth on Feb 3, 2024 8:00:34 GMT -8
Mat Oxley Look upon my works ye mighty and despair! Acosta's first full MotoGP test 1 Pedro Acosta 1:58.189 2 Pol Espargaro +0.066 3 Johann Zarco +0.211 4 Fabio Quartararo +0.249 5 Dani Pedrosa + 0.289
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